Ethiopia's opposition warns against baseless government report By Our Staff Writer October 3, 2005
Ethiopia at a crossroads: The tug-of-war between the forces of democracy and tyranny
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's leading opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) on Monday warned the Ethiopian public against a baseless government media report which stated "opposition parties have agreed to join parliament."
CUDP said in its latest press statement the government media news report was designed to sow the seeds of mistrust between the people and their parties, and every one should be aware that CUDP would never settle down for anything less than the achievement of the freedom of the Ethiopian people. "There is no alternative to struggling for the freedom of the Ethiopian people," the statement said.
The ruling party of EPRDF, which up to recently has been rejecting to negotiate with the opposition parties, has agreed for talks with opposition leaders. Using this window of opportunity, CUDP has joined the talks being mediated by diplomats. CUDP would never trade the interests of the Ethiopian people for anything that falls short of benefiting the people and guaranteeing the reign of freedom and democracy in the country, the statement added.
Counter to this opposition spirit, however, the government is using its media - the only media with a capacity to reach the entire country - to disseminating an unfounded allegation that opposition parties were heading for the parliament, the statement warned.
CUDP called on the people to ignore government misinformation campaign, and follow press statements CUDP would release in accordance with forthcoming developments (To read the official CUDP press release, please visit Kestedemena website).
Since 1991, the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has denied private ownership of broadcasting services in the country, which is home to 73 million people. Misinformation and outright deception have been the staple diet of the 14-year-old tyranny.
The government propaganda machine, however, suffered a major breakdown on May 15 election, an historic event which left Mr. Zenawi to survive on emergency decrees and security forces now flooding the streets.
CUDP and UEDF will resume talks with the ruling party October 4 or 5 with the purpose of ending a post-election crisis. The two parties strive for the formation of a national unity government that would prepare the country for national elections after two years.
(Photo in the text shows a huge opposition rally last May in Addis Ababa, and troops ordered by the prime minister to patrol the streets of Addis Ababa when he imposed a two-month-long state of emergency. Caption and photo montage: Ethiomedia; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Heavens)
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| Ethiopia at a crossroads: The tug-of-war between the forces of democracy and tyranny |
CUDP said in its latest press statement the government media news report was designed to sow the seeds of mistrust between the people and their parties, and every one should be aware that CUDP would never settle down for anything less than the achievement of the freedom of the Ethiopian people. "There is no alternative to struggling for the freedom of the Ethiopian people," the statement said.
The ruling party of EPRDF, which up to recently has been rejecting to negotiate with the opposition parties, has agreed for talks with opposition leaders. Using this window of opportunity, CUDP has joined the talks being mediated by diplomats. CUDP would never trade the interests of the Ethiopian people for anything that falls short of benefiting the people and guaranteeing the reign of freedom and democracy in the country, the statement added.
Counter to this opposition spirit, however, the government is using its media - the only media with a capacity to reach the entire country - to disseminating an unfounded allegation that opposition parties were heading for the parliament, the statement warned.
CUDP called on the people to ignore government misinformation campaign, and follow press statements CUDP would release in accordance with forthcoming developments (To read the official CUDP press release, please visit Kestedemena website).
Since 1991, the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has denied private ownership of broadcasting services in the country, which is home to 73 million people. Misinformation and outright deception have been the staple diet of the 14-year-old tyranny.
The government propaganda machine, however, suffered a major breakdown on May 15 election, an historic event which left Mr. Zenawi to survive on emergency decrees and security forces now flooding the streets.
CUDP and UEDF will resume talks with the ruling party October 4 or 5 with the purpose of ending a post-election crisis. The two parties strive for the formation of a national unity government that would prepare the country for national elections after two years.
(Photo in the text shows a huge opposition rally last May in Addis Ababa, and troops ordered by the prime minister to patrol the streets of Addis Ababa when he imposed a two-month-long state of emergency. Caption and photo montage: Ethiomedia; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Heavens)
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
